The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-01-12
HABITS OF BAD BUGS.
An Address Before the Board Of Agriculture on
The Farmers Enemies"
An Interesting Meeting Concludes With the
Election of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF the
MaiIlard Premium Difficulties.

The State Delegate Board of Agriculture
met yesterday morning at 10 o'clock. Mr..
Mitchell moved that a committee of two be
appointed t. audit the treasurer's accounts.
The committee appointed were Messrs. Sieg
and Mitchell.
Pending the report of the committee, Pro-
fessor f. NJ. Webster, State Entomologist,
read a paper on insects Affecting the
Smaller Cereal Grains" He said THE
terms fly and 'weeviP include ten or twenty
different varieties of insects The so-called
weeyil is seldom found outside of grain ele-
yators. The Hessian fly is hard to dis
tinguish from other insects included under
the name flies There is another very diff
ferent fly which affects wheat, but to less
degree and in a different manner. This is
known as the wheat stem maggot. The eggs
are deposited on the young wheat plants in
the fall and the maggots destroy the tender
stem by cutting off the central portion Just
above the bulb. The larvae pass the winter
in the plant, emerging as adults in the spring.
These adults soon after deposit eggs upon
the plants, the Larvae from them working in
the straw just above the upper point, thereby
causing the upper portion of the stem, in
Guiding the head, to wither and dry lust
prior to harvest.
"In the wheat straw worms we have insects
OF quite different habits, being small ant
like insects. black, with yellow spots on the
shoulders and rings of the same color on the
limbs. In dealing with the wheat nudge it
is difficult to say with our present knowledge
or its habits how far any Of the preceding
remedies will affect either the adult insect or
its Larvae. With the ehinch-bug we close
our list of the principal insect enemies Of the
smaller cereal grains, although those
enumerated constitute but small portion
of the number which annually exact tribute
from the farmer. The chinch-bug passes the
winter in the adult stage under dried leaves
or grasses, and, in fact, any where about the
| fields where it can find protection from the
| elements. They come forth from their winter
| quarters from March until the middle of
May, according to locality. and deposit their
eggs 10 the number of about 500 per each
female"
Professor Webster urged that larger appro-
! priations be allowed by the Legislature for
| the use of the State EntomolOgist in expert
mentiDg. The address was illustrated by
numerous plates, and was discussed by
! Messrs Lockhart MUTT, kingsbury. David
son, Hargrove, Banks and Reagan. The COM
| mittee reported on the treasurer's report
| and it was adopted.
At the afternoon session il was announced
| by tie secretary that the Executive Com
mittee had approved the protest fled by
Colonel Maillard against the award OF the
| first premium in the trial of matched
horses. motion was carried providing for
the payment of the prize money to Colonel
| Maillard.
proposition to refund his entrance
fee to L. w. Cobb, of Aurora, because his
horse had been barred by the starter, was
lost.
After the adjournment of the old board
| Mr.. William A. Greer was chosen permanent
chairman for the first meeting of the new
board. The election of officers for 1887 re-
suited as follows: w. Fl. Seward, president;
Alexander Heron, secretary; Sylvester
Johnson, treasurer; and C. +. Merrifeld,
general superintendent.
Messrs. Lockbart, Mitchell, Davidson and
Peed were constituted the Executive Com
mittee.
On motion of Mr.. Lockhart, the salary OF
the secretary was increased to $1,000. In or
der to allow Illinois to come into the circuit
Mr.. Mitchell moved that the time for HOLDING
the State fair be the week commencing Sep
TENDER 10. This was carried, after discus
sion. Messrs. Mitchell. Bank and Hargrove
were appointed a committee to draft suitable
resolutions regarding the Death of Mr.. John
Sutherland a former member of the board
Mr.. DUNCAN moved that the treasurer
salary be increased to $500. On motion oil
Mr.. Lockhart, a committee consisting oil
Messrs. Mitchell, LOckhart and Simonton
was appointed to formulate a system OF
rules governing county Institutes. The con-
vention then adjourned to meet on Tuesday,
February IS.